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2.25 Race And Stay At

Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 3m

There’s every chance that County Final could be ahead of the handicapper on his mark of 128. The form of his near-miss at Limerick over Christmas will be tested when the winner, Kazansky, and well-held third, Yeshil, line up in the opening Grade 1 of the weekend here, but even the form of his previous Punchestown second looks strong now (winner Kotkito Bello beat him by a length and a half off 100 and is now up to 123 after a ready Thurles win/third-placed Captain Ryan Matt won by 13 lengths next time).

A 7lb rise for Champagne Kid when winning a €100,000 pot here at Christmas looks fair enough, and he’ll deliver another bold bid if this trip isn’t too far for him - he needs to prove his stamina. Saint Le Fort caught the eye behind him when third on that occasion and looks an each-way player. Dippedinmoonlight ran encouragingly enough when second at Fairyhouse on her handicap bow and could be the one to give the selection most to think about, for all that an 8lb rise for last time was strong. Son Of Anarchy and Duke Silver have decent weights of 10st 9lb and 10st 6lb respectively.

SELECTION: COUNTY FINAL

Next best: Dippedinmoonlight

4.05 Barberstown Castle

Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m 1f

Depending on how much rain arrives, Ballysax Hank looks a big player here. If the full amounts forecasted land at Leopardstown, conditions will be slower than he wants, but - if the word ‘heavy’ isn’t in the description on the chase course - he looks capable of winning a race like this off his mark. He stays two miles and five furlongs just fine (possibly didn’t quite get home when stretched out over the extended three miles in the Paddy Power last time), so a stiff two-mile-one-furlong test on easy ground might be workable for him in terms of stamina.

The 10lb rise that stablemate Addragoole got for winning at Christmas is partially offset by Eoin Staples’ 5lb claim. He’s another who might want better ground. The 8lb that Western Diego picked up for winning the €100,000 Dan & Joan Moore Memorial at Fairyhouse 17 days ago doesn’t look overly harsh. Willie Mullins’ second-season chaser should be bang there if this isn’t coming too soon. An Peann Dearg, 6lb higher than when winning this last year, looks overpriced at 22/1 if able to recapture his best.

SELECTION: BALLYSAX HANK

Next best: Western Diego

4.40 Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2) 2m

Gordon Elliott spoke positively about Charismatic Kid at a recent DRF press morning, and the £300,000 purchase will be an interesting watch on his stable debut. The Affinisea five-year-old created a big impression when winning a Navan bumper on testing ground for Colm Ryan last month and had been the subject of big reports before that success (well enough fancied at 4/1 too).

It’s Only A Game, an eyecatcher on his Punchestown Festival debut last spring, bolted up at the same venue in November and is only priced between 12/1 and 16/1 for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He falls into the ‘could be anything’ bracket, and the runner-up from Punchestown hacked up by 18 lengths at Down Royal on December 26th. Rojuco Mac, who bumped into Grade 1 contender Ballyfad at Punchestown before winning at Limerick over Christmas, looks promising in his own right.

SELECTION: CHARISMATIC KID

Next best: It’s Only A Game